Splice-bar.



F. E. ABVBOTT.

SPLICE BAR.

APPLlCATION HLED MAR. 8. 915.

1 1 52,375 Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

anual toz 35:1 Muay- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN E. ABBOTT, OF BUFFALO, NEW YQRK, ASSIGNOR TO LACKAWANNA STEELCOMPANY, OF LACKAWANNA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SPLICE-BAB.

Speciflcation of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

Application filed March 8, 1915. 'Serial No. 12,831.

To al whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN E. AB- noT'r, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of NewYork, have invented new and useful Improvements in Splice-Bars, of whichthe following is a specifieation.

My invention relates toimprovements in splice-bars for rail joints ofthe shape now in common use whereby danger of damage to said splice barsis overcome.

I use the term splice-bar to include fishplates and angle-bars, to bothof which forms my invention may be applied, but have particularly shownmy invention as applied to angle-bars. These angle-bars as now commonlymade, are uniform throughout their entire length. The upper and lowerbearing surfaces, When the angle-bars are in place, engage respectvelywith the under suri'ace of the rail head and the upper surface of therail fian e, and fit snugly into what is called the shing angle of therail section. It results from this that the uniform upper bearingsurface of the splice-bar, coming in contact with the under surface ofthe rail head, extends from one rail to the other, and necessarily is incontact with the edges or corners on the under surfaces of the railends. The efi'ect of this contact When the tracks are in service is(lst) to cut or wear the splice-bar at its center, often starting afracture and-(2nd) to-hammer and upset the metal of the splicebar at thejoint, and also to reduce its ductility, thus tending to weaken thesplice-bar at the point of greatest Stress When the top of the bar isbrought in tension, often resulting in fractures which have theirbeginning at the top of the bar at or near the center. It will beunderstood that When the rail joint is in action, the splice-bar has towithstand altern ating strains of compression and tension in both upperand lower surfaces. The upsetting and wear of the metal at the center inthe top of the bar tends to weaken it at the point of greatest StressWhen the top of the bar is brought in tension. This often results infractures which have their beginning at the top of the bar or near thecenter, through the metal which has been damaged by the rail ends.

To prevent damage to the metal at said upper portion of the splice-bar,I have de s1gned an improvement in shape as shown in accompanyingdrawings. This consists Simply in making a depression in the top bearingsurface of the splice-bar at the central part of its length thusproducing and insuring a short clearance between the splice-bar andextreine ends of the rail heads, to preserve the surface of metal in thedepression in the same condition as When it IS finished, and also toavoid upsetting and wearing it at that point. This preserves the sectionand maintains the full y strength of the bar at the center, where it issubjected to the greatest strains and to consequent frequent breaks. 4

My invention accordingly is embodied in the improved form of barshereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawingwherein the reference characters of this description are applied tocorres 3ondiug parts in the several views.

n the drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a rail jomtemploying my improved form of angle-bar. Fig. 2 is a centralcross-sectional view thereof on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fi. 3 is a partialinside elevation of one of the bars. Fig. 4 is an end view of the bar ofmy invention. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of a fish-plate. Fg. 6 is apartial side elevation showmg a modification.

In the figures R indicates the adjoining sections of rail having theirends substantially in abutting relation with the usual Small space leftbetween them. The joining of the rail ends as here shown is accomplishedby splice-bars B (angle-bars) arranged on opposite sides of the rail andclamped thereto by the usual securing bolts b-b, having threaded ontheir end the usual securing nuts n.

In accordance With my invention clearance is provided for between theunder surface of the rail heads h' at their extreme ends and thesplice-bar, and this is desirably efi'ected by Simply making adepression d of suitable size oentrally in the upper surface of the slice-bar, thereby preventing contact with t e shar corners on theunderside of the rail hea s. This depression in the bar is desirablyformed as shown by rolling or Pressing the metal When hot, but may beformed by shearing or otherwise as will be readily understood. I preferhowever to modify the shape by rolhng or pressing, for by that methodthere is no reduction in the metal at any point, and 'the bar is 110splice bars thereby keeping the surface of the metal in the depressionin its proper" finished oondition. o Thereby the section and fullstrength of the bars are preserved at the center,- where it is subjectedt o thegreabest sti'ains, and, whereif the condition of the metal isimpaired as described, it is particuarly injurious in promoting fractureof the ars. As different embodments of. the herein described inventioncould'be made without depa'rting from the Scope thereof, it is ir'1-.tended that all matter containedherein shall be interpreted asillustrative and not in a h'miting. sense. For hastance in Fign I haveshown my invention applied "to a ifishplato of usual shape, hut ormedwith the depression'd both in the u pper and lower surfaces, so. that'the plates may be .r'eversed. I prefer to obtain the clearance betweenthe center of the splice-br and the lower surfiace of the mil-head inthe manner shown but a similar result. may be acoomplished by cuttin orfiling'away the lower. 'corners of the raul-head as shown at c in Fig.6,

I claim-'-* 4 1. A splice-bar for mil joints ormd-with a, centraldepression on its u-pper edge to avoid contact With the r'ail ends Copieo! this patent may be obtaincd for 2. A splice-bar for rail joints'h'aving the central portio'nof its upper edge slightly dei pressed andoorrespondingly thickened', to. prevent contact' with the ends oftherails,

While preserving'the full strength of the bar'at the'center.

3.'A splice-bar for rai l joints forrned 'to fit snugly in thefishng'angle of the rail, end haying a, de'pression'in its' Upperportion adapted to be arramged'a'd acent the rail 'ends toinsre-clearane between the bar and the corners on the under surface ofthe to Connect the two rail's, said joint being' fo'med'to provide a..clearance between the upper surfac'e of thQ-s'lic-bar and the-un derside f the mil hea s'ubstantially as described and shown.

In testimonyt whereof'I have signed my* name to this-specifiation thepresence of two subscribing witnesses O f 'FRANKLIN n ABBOTT. WitnessestHAROLD MAGNE S,

A. H. WESTO'N. 4

ave ccnts each, nddreumg the c'ommissioner o! ra'tents, Washington, D.O." 4

adj acent their ends,

Disclaimer in Letters Patent No. 1,152,375.

ar and the under side of the rail heads adjacent their ende, substantialDISOLAIMER.

1,152,375.-Franklin E'. Abbott, Buffalo, N. Y. SPLICE-BAR. Patent datedAugust 31, 1915. Disclaimer filed' May 1, 1917, by the inventor and theassignee, Lackawanm Steel Gompany. Enter this disclaimer "To all theclaims of said patent, said claims being numbered from 1 to 5,respectively, and are as follows:

1. A spiice-bar for rail joints formed With a central depression on itsupper' edge to avoid contact With the rail ends.

"2. A splice-bar for rail joints having the central portion of its upperedge slightly depressed and correspondingl thickened, to prevent contactWith the ends of the rails, While preserving the ull strength of the barat the center.

3. A splice-bar for rail jonts formed to fit snugly in the 'fishing anle of the rail, and having a depresson in its upper portion adapted tobe arrange adjacent the rail ends to insure olearance between the barand the corners on the under surface of the rail ende.

4. As a neW article of manufacture, a splice-bar for rail-joints formedWith an upper surface to enga e the under side of the rail heads, andhaving a Small depression formed in sai upper surface and adapted tounderlie the corners on the under side of the rail ends, substentiallyas shown.

'5. The combination in a rail joint of the two rails having their endsarranged adjacent and a s lice bar bolted to said two ends to Connectthe two rails, said 'oint being forme to provide a clearance between theupper surface of the sFlicey as described and shown."

[Oficial Gazette, May 15, 1917.]

